Doris May Lessing discusses the inspiration behind "The Four-Gated City", her thoughts about science and humanity, and her predictions for the future.

"Walking in the Shade: Volume 2 of My Autobiography, 1949-1962", starts with Doris Lessing moving to England. Lessing wrote many books and she said it's annoying when her readers only remember 1 or 2 of her books. After having lived through 2 wars and a bombing, Lessing mentions how she's surprised that more people in society aren't crazy, similar to the craziness of all that's transpired in the world.

Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about her book and her relationship with President Johnson.

Delving into their Irish immigrant backgrounds is what makes Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, "The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga" stand out from other books. Although they had wanted to settle on a farm in the West, the Fitzgeralds ended up in Boston. Goodwin talks a lot about Rose Fitzgerald and her husband, Joe Kennedy.

Being enamored with Rosa Luxemburg's life resulted in Donna Blue Lachman's play, "The Language of Birds: Rosa Luxemburg and Me." The play is of Luxemburg reading letters or of her talking to birds. At one point, Lachman wanted to quit writing the play, noting it was too difficult to finish. Remembering the strong and courageous revolutionary Luxemburg was made her complete the play.

In her book, “Liberty Denied: The Current Rise of Censorship in America,” Donna Demac points out that we, as a society, are not as free as we think we are. Demac can’t understand why anyone would want to keep people from reading great pieces of literature. While some groups called certain books anti-Christian, Demac said no one has ever died from reading a four-letter word.

Discussing the book "Biko" with the author Donald Woods.

Author and historian Donald Sassoon discusses his book “One Hundred Years of Socialism: The West European Left in the Twentieth Century.” Sassoon discusses the history of socialism in European countries and the social and political circumstances that lead to socialist revivals. Studs plays "The Internationale (Recording of 1944)" - Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra, The Westminster Choir.

Studs talks with Donald Johanson about his book "Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind," in which the famed paleoanthropologist describes his discovery of the female hominin fossil in Ethiopia. The conversation includes talk of Charles Darwin, Eugène Dubois' Java Man discovery, what makes a hominid, holes in the fossil record, fossil dating, his disagreements with Louis and Richard Leakey, site discovery, and his belief that the Hadar Formation in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia holds the keys to the evolutionary puzzle. Includes snippets of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Donald Gramm discusses working with composers and comparing contemporary and classical opera. He also talks about his approaches to different performances and his experiences singing in multiple languages. Music is played throughout the interview and performances include his role as Creon from Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex"and selections from Ned Rorem's "War Scenes": "As Adam", "O You Whom", "To You", "Look Down, Fair Moon", and "A Night Battle". Next, a performance as Leporello singing "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" from "Don Giovanni" and "Zwei Gesänge, Op. 1: I.

"Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films is Donald Bogle's study of Black actors and the roles they played in movies. Bogle believed it was important for Black people to see Black heroes in movies. Bogle concluded there were too few roles available for Black actors and too many roles were of stereotypes.

South African exiles Donald and Wendy Woods discuss the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and their exile. The two describe their ignorance to the privilege they experienced as white people in South Africa during Apartheid, an ignorance they maintained until meeting and forming a relationship with the founder of the Black Consciousness movement, Steve Biko. Studs plays "Kwela Blues" - Lemmy Special Mabaso.

American singer-songwriter Don McLean discusses his career and events in the 1960s and 1970s that have influenced his music.

Don McLean discusses his career and his music. Don McLean discusses his influences, life experiences, and his songwriting.